No matter what happens in the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians, it will make history. Both teams are coming from historically long droughts without a World Series win. But did you know there are several connections to that history that run right through Kansas City?
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Located in the 18th and Vine District, Kansas City's own Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a treasure house of history that was nearly forgotten. The story of the Negro Leagues is a story of perseverance in the face of hatred. And throughout this house lingers the spirit of one man; Buck O'Neil. He played for the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs, and spent his life promoting the memory of Negro Leagues Baseball. And he made history.
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"Buck was a great scout for the Cubs and then the first African American coach in Major League Baseball history 1962 with the Chicago Cubs, so he knew the Cubs system very intimately and certainly played a great role in the storied history of the Chicago Cubs," said Bob Kendrick, NLBM President.
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And that's where the connections start piling up. "There is Sweet Lou Johnson and George Altman and Lou Brock - Buck brought all those guys to the Chicago Cubs," Kendrick added.
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And if you start counting who shared a Monarchs jersey, well...
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"The first Cub African American player ... was 1953 with Ernie Banks and then Gene Baker and both had played here for the Kansas City Monarchs," Kendrick observed.
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And Cleveland isn't left out either. Just a few weeks after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier with the Dodgers, Cleveland signed Larry Doby and then an aging but still amazing Satchel Paige, Buck's old friend from Monarch days. Doby and Paige both helped Cleveland win their last world series in 1948.
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"Both teams are well connected to our story," said Kendrick.
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Kendrick says the NLBM is always looking for ways to connect current baseball excitement to the museum.
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"We're excited as an institution even though the Royals are not in the World Series, that we can find avenues to make sure that the story of the Negro Leagues is not lost. and of course those are two great teams to create that interest in Negro Leagues history and the importance of what Negro Leagues baseball meant to the game the way it's being played today, " he said.
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So as we prepare to watch the October classic unfold, maybe Buck is too...
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"You can't help but believe that he and ol' Ernie Banks and those guys are all sitting there laughing and smiling and hoping that the Cubs can find a way to win this thing," said Kendrick.
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